QHS thespians take flight in 'Seussical'

Thursday

Feb 13, 2014 at 8:37 AMFeb 13, 2014 at 8:37 AM

By Jamie BarrandTwitter: @editorbarrandCOLDWATER — In his career as a theatrical flying director, Johnny Pickett has traveled all over the world.The Tennessee native works for Las Vegas-based Flying by Foy. One of his most recent gigs was the American Music Awards, where he created the flights for Katy Perry's back-up dancers. On Wednesday he left for Tokyo, where he will spend two weeks creating flights and training flyers for large-scale theater productions of "Wicked" and "The Lion King."But this past Sunday through Tuesday Pickett was in Coldwater at Tibbits Opera House — where the young thespians of Quincy High School, who will take the stage Friday for the opening of a two-weekend run of "Seussical the Musical" — got a golden opportunity to work with a theatrical flight professional.According to Tibbits technical director Dave Brown, this will be the first show ever staged at the Tibbits with actor flying effects.As Julia Hildebrand, who portrays The Cat in the Hat, was lowered from far above the stage onto the boards on flight apparatus from Flying by Foy on Tuesday, she seemed serene as she sang.Later, she and castmate Rachel Sarles, who plays Jojo, mimed as if they were swimming - diving, paddling and flipping backward and forward - while suspended above the stage with wires during a scene based on Dr. Seuss' book "McElligot's Pool."As a smiling Hildebrand came out into the house after running through those scenes, her castmates were curious about her flying experience."Did you feel like you were going to throw up?" one girl wanted to know.Hildebrand smiled."No," she said. "It was fun. I knew I was safe."As he listened to the exchange, Pickett grinned widely."This is where I love to be," he said, watching high school and middle school students dressed in brightly-colored, feather- and sequin-covered costumes milling about the house of the theater. "When you work with A-list stars, you're always catering to them. People are spending millions of dollars; you're a very small cog in a very big wheel. I come to a place like this, I'm a rock star. I'm making kids fly."Pickett hails from Etowah, Tenn. He earned a bachelor's degree in theatre from East Tennessee State University and a master's degree in design and technology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.He taught theatre at North Carolina A.T. State University, the University of Montevallo in Alabama, and has worked in professional theaters throughout the United States.He has developed effects for "Monty Python's SPAMALOT" on Broadway; for shows at the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; for the ABC television show "Dancing with the Stars" and for so many televised entertainment award shows "I couldn't even begin to count them."Working with kids and getting to see theater through their eyes, Pickett said, is something he loves the most about his job."I giggle all the time because I get paid to do this," he said.Senior Ashley Olney, who plays the role of Gertrude McFuzz in "Seussical," was excited about the opportunity to learn about theatrical flying from a professional."When I was watching the other actors fly, it seemed scary at first," she admitted. "But once I got up there it was so much fun."Six adult "anchors" are helping with the production. The actors and anchors were required to have nine hours of rehearsal and training with a professional fly trainer before they were allowed to fly during the shows.The QHS players will present "Seussical the Musical" Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. and Feb. 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 23 at 3 p.m.A core cast will appear in all performances and includes Hildebrand, Sarles, Olney, Taylor DeKlein as the Sour Kangaroo, Carmen Bruce as the young kangaroo, Ellerie Hughes as Mayzie LaBird and Adam Oberlitner as Horton the Elephant.The Wickersham brothers are played by Danielle Wheeler, Alyssa Bracy, Katie Clayton, Bailey Winans and Emily Talbot. The Bird Girl chorus includes Monique Paxton, Emily Harmon, Tori Baker, Olivia Carman, Mikayla King and Emma DePew.Zach Brockway and Miya Rose play Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, while David Vavro appears as the Grinch, Trevor Powell is General Ghengis Kahn Schmitz and Josh Olney plays Vlad Vladikoff.Two additional supplemental casts (alternating performances) include Natalie Harmon, Rilee Cooper-Lewis, Abigail Harmon, Elise Wright, Grant Wright, Gavin Omo, Krysta Struble, Mercedes Bender, Emily Hughes, Haley Hinds, Hope Medendorp, Elizabeth Talbot, Halle Frank, Josh Pepper, Breonna Dangerfield, Lillie Holtz, Molly Palmer, and Annalese Hammond.The show is directed by Jason Ferrell and stage managed by Anna Brockway, assisted by Andrew Harmon and Ivol Frasier.Tech crew members include Connor Michael, John Vavro, Bethany Falknor, Amber Hastings, Connor Rzepka and Meagan White.